Continuous boiler-feeder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. T. MAGGOY. CONTINUOUS BOILER FEEDER. I

Patented Oct. 9

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(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2 I A. T. MAOCOY.

Q CONTINUOUS BoILEE EEEEEE.

No. 592,062. Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

' 'NlTiED STATES PATENT FFTCEZQ CONTINUOUS BOILER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,062, dated October19, 1897. Application filed February 18, 1897. Serial No. 624,017- Nomdel-l T all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that-I, ANDREW TURNBULL MAOCOY, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented a new and usefulContinuous Boiler-Feeder, of

which the following is a specification, refer ence being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my newboiler feeder, intermediate portions of the watercases being broken out,as indicated by waved lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of what is shownin Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a central sectional elevation on line 33 ofFig. 1 and at line 3 3 of Fig. 2, viewed from the geared side of theapparatus. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the valve whichcontrols the passage between the piston-cylinders and of adjacent parts.Fig. 5 is a central sectional view showing a modification wherein thevalve-controllers are in the form of floats instead of in the form oftanks. 7

The object of my invention is to produce an improved,continuously-operating boilerfeeder; and my invention consists in'thecombination of water-cases and independent piston-cylindersv and pistonswhich operate a Valve controlling alternately the steam-inlet to eachwater-case,- with valve-controllers mounted within said water-cases andautomatically operating a valvefwhich controls conduits alternately openfrom 'a piston-cylinderto the boiler feed-conduit, the watercases beingprovidedwith water-inlets, and also with water-outlets communicatingwith the boiler feed-conduit, by means of which the boiler iscontinuously fed by gravitation from either one or the other of thewater-cases.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the bestmode now known to me of embodying that principle, A and B areindependent piston-cylinders, and O and D are independent water-cases: Gis an 0s cillating valve controlling a conduit between piston-cylinder Aand boiler feed-conduit g, and also between piston-cylinder B and saidconduit gi 1 H is an oscillating valve in the form of a lateralextension from walking-beam p, one

lating valve H is mounted in the path of steam-inlet conduit K, thissteam-inlet conduit K communicating with the steam-conduit S, whichopens into the upper portion of water-case D. Steam-inlet conduit K isalso in 7 communication with steam conduit U, which opens into the upperpart of water-case C. Valve H is provided with a steam-passage R, whichpermits communication of conduit K and conduit Swhen it is in linetherewith'. The valve H is also provided with an independentsteam-passage T, whereby the conduit K and the conduit U are put intocommunication when the passage T is in line with the conduits K and U.Conduits S and U are also adapted to communicate alternately withexhaust-conduit X, discharging through the exhaust-port W. When thevalve H is in the position shown in Fig. 3, steam-passage R and thesteam-inlet conduit K are in communicaposition to bring steam-passage Tbetween. conduits K and U, steam-passage R connects the steam-conduit Swith the exhaust-conduit X, as will be readily understood fromthedrawings. v

The valve H is preferably in the form of a truncated cone and thesteam-passages R and T are separated one from the other by a solidcentral portion of the valve. The oscillatingvalve G is also preferablyin the form of a truncated cone and is formed with waterpassages and j.When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, theconduitsection it connects piston-cylinder A with the water-passage j invalve G, the passage j then communicating with the conduit g. p Thesolid-metal part of valve G then prevents communication betweenconduit-section h and the conduit-section 2', leading to pistoncylinderB. These conduits or conduit-sections h and 2' never communicate onewith the other, but each leads from a piston-cylinder to the valve G andthe conduit 9 and exhaust V. When the valve is oscillated its fullstroke, the water-passage y' is carried out of line with conduit-section7L and conduit g and the passage j is brought into line withconduit-section i and the conduit g. This conduit g leads into theboiler feed-pipe l The upper portion of the boiler feed-pipe N is formedwith an enlargement N, which is provided with an interiorly-openingcheckvalve 0, controlling communication between the boiler feed-pipe Nand the water-outlet conduit L, which opens into water-case D. Theenlargement N is also provided with another interiorly -openingcheck-valve n, which controls communication between boiler feed-pipe Nand the water-outlet conduit M, opening into water-case O.

The water-supply pipe 0 is provided with two branches P and Q, branch 1opening into water-case D and provided with a valve casing m, containinga check-valve m, opening toward the water-case D. The branch Q isprovided with a valve-casing Z, which contains a check-valve I, thatopens toward the watercase 0.

Tank E already referred to is carried by a rocker-arm a, being looselyjointed thereto near its outer end at a. At its other or butt end it issplined or otherwise secured to a shaft (1 journaled in a stuffing-box a(shown in Fig. 1,) mounted in the side wall of watercase (J. This shafta is provided with a gear 0, fastened rigidly 011 said shaft. The tank Fis similar to the tank E and is similarly attached to the outer portionof a rocker-arm I), mounted on its shaft a mounted in its stuffing-box aand provided with a fixed gear (Z similar in all respects to the gear 0.The gears a (Z on these rocker-shafts a a mesh witha gear 6, fixed onthe journal e, mounted in a suitable support 0 (shown in Fig. 2) fromthe side of the apparatus. This gear e in turn meshes with asegment-gear f, which is fixed on the stem f of oscillating valve G.

Referring now to the operation of my new boiler-feeder: Supposing theapparatus to be free from water and steam and that the tanks E and F arein the positions shown in Fig. 3, steam and water may be simultaneouslyor separately admitted. Supposing the steam to be first admitted(conduit 9 being filled to valve G through boiler feed-pipe N with waterfrom the boiler and under the pressure therein) it will flow in throughconduit K, steam-passage R, and steam-conduit S into case D and willclose valve m, so that water cannot flow into water-case D. lVater beingturned on it will then flow, from a source of supply, through pipe 0,past valve Z, through water-inlet Q, into case C. It is to be noted thatthe tanks E and F are filled with water at the outset in any appropriatemanner and are always kept so filled by the condensation of steam or theinflow of waterin the cases 0 and D. \Vhen water flows into water-caseO,it approximately neutralizes the weight of the tank E, which isbalanced by the filled tank F. Consequently the weight of the tank Fwill cause it to descend in case D, and as it descends the force ofgravitation is transferred through the gears (l, e, and c to lift thetank E toward the upper part of water-case O-that is, to about thewaterlevel of tank Cas water flows in through conduit Q and rises intank 0. This movement of the gears causes segment-gear fto oscillatevalve G and bring watenpassage j into line with water-conduit section 1'and conduit g, thereby carrying passage into communication withconduit-section h and exhaust-passage V. At this time water from theboiler, at boiler-pressure, being in conduit N and conduit g, flowsthrough the water-passagej in valve G, entering conduitsection t' andflowing under the piston Y in piston-cylinder B. The piston Y is'therebymoved upwardly and the valve 11 is thereby rocked to bring thesteam-passage T into line with the steam-inlet pipe K and thesteameonduit U, which discharges into the upper portion of thewater-case C. By this time case C has become filled with water, andsteam-pressure on its surface causes valve Z to be seated. Thelast-mentioned movement of the valve II brings the passage R intocommunication with the steam-conduit S and the exhaust-conduit X, thepiston Z being moved toward the bottom of the piston-cylinder A.

As above stated, the water-case D has received the boiler-steam, and thesteam is now exhausted through conduit S, steam-passage R, andexhaust-conduit X and exhaust \V. The exhaustion of the steam inwater-case D permits water to flow past check-valve m into thewater-case D, and at the same time the water begins to flow bygravitation (the apparatus being placed above the water-line of theboiler) past check-valve a and through the boiler feed-pipe N. Thisbrings the parts into the position shown in Fig. 3, whereinpiston-cylinder A is shown filled with water and the water-case D filledwith water to its level, water being shown in the enlargement N, conduitM, and to the low-water level of the case 0. Without interruption, astank F reaches its uppermost position, the mechanically regulated waterpassage 7' is brought by the rotation of the valve G into communicationwith piston-cylinder A and conduit g. At the same time the passage 76 isbrought into communication between piston-cylinder B and thewater-exhaust port V. At this time the water-case C is connected withthe steam-exhaust port W through the steam-conduit U, steam-passage T,and conduit X. In this position steam-pressure is taken off the valve Zand water flows into water-case O, and the steam-pressure on the anyimproper movement, accidental or otherwise, of the pistons and valve I-Iduring the operation of the apparatus. Were steam used, it wouldcondense after valve G was shut off and valve H might be moved,accidentally or otherwise; but the presence of a the pistons and insuresa gradual flow of steam to the water-cases by reason of the gradualopening of valve H. The tanks E and F are valve; controllers in effectand simultaneously move in opposite directions.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 hollow water and steam conduitfloats 1 and 2 are substituted for the tanks E and F. The resultobtained by the use of floats as distinguished from balancing-tanks isthe same,

although the tanks have a tendency to fall,

whereas the floats have a tendency to rise; but this difference oftendency is wholly immaterial and floats may be substituted for thetanks, although the tanks are preferable because they are subject toequal pressure inside and out, as will be readily understood by allskilled in the art, whereas floats would be liable to become crushed ordestroyed by the steam-pressure and for other causes.

The inner ends of conduits Q, M, L, and P preferably project well abovethe bottom of water-cases O and D,so as to prevent, in a large measure,sediment at the bottom of the tank getting into the pipes or passing tothe boiler.

What I claim is- 1. In a boiler-feeder, the combination with thewater-cases of a movable valve-controller within each Water-case a pairof pistons and piston-cylinders; conduits from the pistoncylinders;- avalve which has a plurality of passages and is so mounted as to controlsaid conduits; mechanism which connects the valve-controllers togetherand with said valve; and a boiler-conduit extending from said valve;steam and water connections of the cases with the boiler and a valveoperated by the pistons.

2. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of.

anism which connects the pistons together and with said valve; waterconnections from the cases to the boiler; and the valve controlling thepressure to the pistons operated by connected valve-controllers in thewatercases.

3. The new and useful continuously feed ing boiler-feeder hereindescribed, said feeder comprising, in combination, a plurality ofwater-cases each having near the bottom a water-inlet and water-outlet;a valve-controller movable within each water-case; a plurality ofpiston-cylinders conduits therefor near the inner end of thecylinders'g'a water-exhaust port a'conduit'which connects the upperportion of the water-cases and has a steam-inlet port and asteam-exhaust port;

a conduit leading boilerward from the conduits from thepiston-cylinders; a valve having a plurality of passages and so mountedthat it controls the conduits from the pistoncylinders and thewater-exhaust port thereof and the conduit leading boilerward therefrom;mechanism which connects said valvecontrollers together and with thevalve for the piston-cylinder conduits; pistons in saidpiston-cylinders; a valve having a plurality of passages and so mountedthat it controls not only the conduit connecting the watercases but alsothe steam inlet and exhaust I ports thereof; and mechanism whichconnects the pistons together and with the valve for thewater-case-connecting conduit. I

4. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of water-cases; a movablevalve-controller in each case; a piston-conduit; an oscillating valvetherefor; a rocker-arm for each valvecontroller; a gear near the buttofeach rockerarm; an intermediate gear meshing with said gears on therocker-arm; an oscillating valve for said piston-conduit; and a gearfast to the oscillating valve and meshing with said intermediate gear;steam and water connections of the cases with the boiler and the valveoperated by the pistons for controlling the passage of steam.

5. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a pair of water-cases aconduit connecting the same; an oscillating valve in said conduit; apair of pistons and piston-cylinders; a walking-beam fast to saidoscillating valve and connected by each arm with the pistons; apiston-00nd uit; an oscillating valve therefor; valve-controllers in thewater-cases; means for connecting said oscillating valve in thepiston-conduit with the valve-controllers, and steam and waterconnections of the cases with the boiler and a source of supply.

6. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a conical oscillating valvehaving a plurality of openings; automatically-operated valvecontrollersconnected together and with said valve; a supply-pipe with which one ofsaid openings communicates to allow water to operate one piston and toallow water in the other cylinder to flow to the exhaust; a pair ofpistons and piston-cylinders; a pair of Water-cases; a conduitconnecting the cases; a valve in said conduit connected to and operatedby the pistons; and steam and water connections from the cases to theboiler.

7. In a boiler-feeder, the combination of a pair of water-cases and apair of piston-cylinders and pistons therefor; conduits from thepiston-cylinders; a valve thereinbetween that alternately communicatesWith one or the other of said conduits for the piston-cylinders; aconduit from said valve-controlled conduits and in alternatecommunication through said valve with one or the other of saidpiston-cylinder conduits; a boiler feedeonduit in communication with theconduit from the piston-cylinder conduits, and Waterescape conduits fromthe water-cases to the boiler feed-00nd uit steam connections to thecases and the valve operated by the pistons.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of 15 two subscribing witnesses, on this 16th day of February,A. D. 1897.

ANDREW TURNBULL MACCOY.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD S. BEACH, FRANCIS -J. V. DAKIN.

